Antony, people can check in on this post in the comments section. I'll put up a new post with each week, for people to say how they are doing; if they are seeing this as helpful, etc.

No chocolate today.

Jeff, thanks for your input, but let me say...if I am saying "Come Lord Jesus", I sure want Jesus to find me penitant. There is joy in that waiting too, a confidence in God's goodness. But if avoiding the excesses of the season in some small way helps me remember the Incarnation occured for my sin, then I think it is a good thing.

The bishop is not going to take away my Catholic membership card if I am happy during Advent... No, I will NOT be penitential. For 6 days I will sing "Deck the Halls," and on the 7th day, "O Come O Come Emanuel." Listen, it's a compromise.